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Even though Aminul Huq Jewel alias Jewel Mollah is one of the prime suspects in the abduction of six-year-old schoolboy Parag Mondol and a “fugitive” to the law enforcers, the Juba League leader yesterday held a press conference in the capital and claimed himself “innocent”.

Shuvadya union unit President of the Awami League's youth front, Jewel Mollah, who allegedly patronised listed criminal Ameer Hossain alias Langra Ameer in abducting the minor boy on November 11, held the press conference at the Jatiya Press Club at noon.

Jewel said he had never gone into hiding and had always been staying at his locality.

Talking to The Daily Star, Sakhawat Hossain, officer-in-charge of South Keraniganj Police Station, yesterday expressed surprise over Jewel's holding a press conference. The OC claimed that he was unaware of it.

"We have been looking for him as many reports in the media have mentioned his links with the abduction. Some of the arrestees also said so,” the OC said.

At the press meet, Jewel claimed that he was in no way involved in the abduction and that he had a “good relationship with Parag's father Bimol Mondol”.

Bimol is a businessman at Paschim Para in Shuvadya union of Keraniganj on the outskirts of the city. Jewel hails from the same area.

Jewel, who is an accused in many cases, including for killing and extortion, claimed that vested quarters had been trying to implicate him falsely with a view to furthering their own interests.

His lawyer Mohammad Russel and Keraniganj Muktijoddha Command Council President Mohammad Shahjahan were also present at the conference.

Armed criminals snatched Parag away by shooting his mother, sister and their driver in the morning on November 11 from near their house while they were about to get into their car for going to school.

Three days after the abduction, the child was left abandoned in the area reportedly against a ransom of Tk 50 lakh.

After the incident, Rab arrested six persons while another was arrested by police in this connection. But the gang leader and other key persons in the incident are still at large.